Method of stringing tobacco



July 15, 1958 L. J. COVINGTON 2,843,279

METHOD OF s'ramcmc TOBACCO Original Filecf'Malrch 5. 1954 INVENTOR United Patented July 15, 1958 METHOD OF TR1NGlNG TUlEAC'CO Luther .l'. Covington, Halifax, Va.

Original application March 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,426,

now Patent No. 2,776,760, dated January 1, 1957. Divided and this application January 4, 1957, Serial No. 632,465

1 Claim. (Cl. 214-152) This invention relates to a method for stringing tobacco leaves upon tobacco sticks preparatory to hanging the sticks containing the leaves upon racks in a barn for curing, and this application is a division of application Serial Number 414,426, filed March 5, 1954, now Patent No. 2,276,760.

Tobacco is handled in several different ways, depending upon the curing method employed. Where so-called flue curing is used the tobacco is placed in a barn which is capable of being tightly sealed, and a furnace, or other heat source, is employed to maintain a high temperature within the barn for a period of several days to cure the tobacco leaves. Where this method is employed individual leaves are picked from the tobacco plants as the leaves ripen and tied to hang on opposite sides of a tobacco stick. The leaves are spaced along the stick so that they hang in small bundles of two or three leaves to permit free circulation of air through the leaves. The tobacco sticks are hung horizontally with their ends supported on rails and the leaves hanging downwardly.

Prior to the present invention it has been the practice to tie the leaves upon the stick by hand operation, the end of the string being fastened near one end of the stick and the string looped around the stems of two or three leaves positioned against one side of the stick and then crossed over to the opposite side where it is looped around the stems of several leaves. This operation is repeated, carrying the string back and forth across the stick until leaves have been hung along the full length to a point near the opposite end. It is important that the ends of the stick remain free of tobacco so they may rest upon the supporting rails. This tying operation is a timeconsuming task, and unless the looping around the stems is properly done the leaves will fall out as the tobacco begins to cure and the moisture is taken out of the leaf and stem.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of tying bundles of tobacco leaves and hanging them on sticks for curing.

A more specific object is the provision of such method wherein the leaves are arranged and tied with a loop in such manner that when the leaves are placed upon a stick two bundles are formed, each with an individual loop.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tobacco stick with bundles of leaves having their stems tied with a loop positioned over the stick preparatory to hanging; and,

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure l but with the leaves dropped in place upon the stick.

In general, the invention consists in a method of tying loops around bundles of tobacco leaves and hanging the leaves in two bundles at the sides of the stick with the loop forming a bridging member between the bundles and across the stick.

Referring to the drawings in detail, groups, or bundles, of leaves 1 are gathered together in the usual manner. Two bundles of the leaves are then arranged so that the leaves extend in opposite directions and the stems of the two bundles are in overlapping relation. A loop 2 of string, or cord, is tied loosely around the overlapping stems and the bundles dropped upon a tobacco stick 3.

When the leaves fall upon the stick they will be substantially fiat with the loop 2 extending longitudinally of the stick and the leaf stems transversely of the stick. The weight of the leaves will cause them to swing downwardly on opposite sides of the stick. As the leaves move downwardly, the stems of the two groups will rotate relative to one another which will cause the sides of the loop to cross over thus forming a pair of loops, one around the stems of each bundle of leaves. The length of the loop.

will be suflicient to bridge the top of the stick, yet confine the stems closely against the sides of the sticks. This will serve to hold the bundles on the stick during the curing period, and will also prevent sliding of the bundles lengthwise of the stick it the stick should be tilted while handling.

As the leaves dry out during curing, the stems will shrink. The weight of the bundles, however, will cause the bundles to assume a more nearly vertical position, thus tightening the loop about the stems and retaining the stems tightly against the sides of the sticks. Due to this automatic tightening action, there will be no danger of the leaves falling from the sticks during, or after, curing.

It will be obvious that there is no tying of the bundles to the stick and, due to the looseness of the loop the string will drop from the stems when the leaves are lifted from the stick after curing. This method of tying the bundles for placement on the stick permits rapid handling of the tobacco both in hanging on the stick and removing it when cured.

While in the above one practical manner of carrying out the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that variations may be made from the specific details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A method of hanging tobacco leaves upon a stick for curing comprising, arranging two groups of leaves with their stems extending in opposite directions and overlapping, tying a loose loop of string around the overlapping stems, dropping the tied bundle with the leaves flat and transversely of the stick with the tying loop overlying the stick and permitting the tied groups to fall on opposite sides of the stick to cause the sides of the tying loop to cross over to form small loops around each group of leaf stems.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,393 Farmer Oct. 22, 1889 454,097 Warren Tune 16, 1891 

